multistory

Multistory refers to a building or structure that has more than one floor or storey. The term is used in architecture, civil engineering, and real estate to distinguish from single-story structures. Spelling varies by variant of English; multistory and multi-story are common in American usage, while multistorey or storey is used in British English.

Buildings with multiple stories are designed to maximize land use in urban areas. They range from two-story houses and small apartment blocks to mid-rise and high-rise office towers. Structural systems include steel frames, reinforced concrete cores, and combinations that support vertical circulation via stairwells and elevator cores.

Design considerations include floor plans, fire safety and egress, accessibility, seismic and wind loading, and energy efficiency. Fire-rated partitions, protected stairs, and sprinkler systems are typical requirements. Sustainable multistory buildings may incorporate daylighting, green roofs, and high-performance envelope design.

Historically, multistory construction has evolved from ancient stacked dwellings and urban tenements to the steel-and-concrete skyscrapers of the 20th century. In modern cities, multistory buildings enable dense housing, commercial space, and mixed-use development in constrained sites.

See also: high-rise, skyscraper, elevator, zoning and building codes.